Internal-combustion engine.



HI'S. GINN.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. 1915.

Patented 001;. 31, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. s. GINN. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.29, I9I5.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

wi/hwoo ea tit HORACE SCOTT GINN, 0F WINSLGW, ARTZONA.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

naoaaaa.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, HoRAcn citizen of the United States, residing at Winslow, in the county of Navajo and State of Arizona, have invented new and useful Improvements in internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines, the object in view being to produce an engine in which the ma or portion of the Weight of the entire engine rotates or revolves and thereby constitutes the equivalent of a fly wheel, resulting in a more even torque and application of power, increased reliability and efficiency. V

A further object of the invention is to provide in connection with a stationary casing formed with a combustion chamber, a rotor embodying a circular series of com- S. GINN, a

Specification of Letters Patent.

pressing and charging cylinders and pistons together with one or more hinged abutments, the said cylinders and pistons being'used for the purpose of drawing in charges of carbureted air or the like and compressing the same preparatory to the liberation of the compressed charges to the combustion chamber, the arrangement being such that the pistons act also as valves thus eliminating the use of ordinary check valves and the complications and objectionable features incident to the use thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construc tion, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through an engine embodying the present invention taken at right angles to the engine shaft. Fig. 2 isa diametrical section through the engine taken in line with the shaft, the latter being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section illustrating more clearly the construction of the hinged abutment and the valve carried thereby.

The engine contemplated in this invention comprises in the preferred embodiment thereof a stationary casing 1 which is shown as formed at one point with a combustion chamber 2. It will, of course, be understood, however, that one or more combustion chambers may be provided in the stationary casing 1 without departing from the principle of the invention herein disclosed.

Patented their. 31, 19166.,

Application filed November 29, 1915. Serial No. 649%.

The casing 1 may be supported by any suitable form of base (not shown) and is provided with an intake pipe or connection.

1n fixed relation to the rim 7 by means of one or more webs 9 as indicated in Fig. 2. Arranged within the rim 7 is a circular se ries ofcylinders designated at a, b, c, d, e, g and it and it is preferred to form the heads 10 of said cylinders integrally with the rim 7 as indicated in Fig. 2, the main body of each cylinder being formed with a base flange 11 which isbolted or otherwise fastened as shownat 12 to the head 10. All of the cylinders referred to thus bear a fixed relation to the rim 7 and revolve therewith. In each of the cylinders referred to there is arranged a piston 13 which has a reciprocatory motion with respect to its cylinder. Une of the pistons 13 is connected by a master connecting rod 14 to an eccentric strap 15 which embraces an eccentric 16 surrounding the central engine shaft 17. The other pistons of the series are connected by rods 18 to the same eccentric strap 15 but pivotally, as indicated at 19 thus providing for the varying angles of the piston rods with the exception of the master rod 14: which is necessarily connected to the eccentric strap 15 rigidly so as to sustain said strap in a certain relation which will efi'ect all of the remaining piston rods 18 and result in the proper inward and outward movements of the entire series of pistons.

In radial alinement with each of the cylinders hereinabove referred to is a compression chamber 20 which communicates by means of a passage 21 with a port 22 in the adjacent cylinder head 10, which'port 22 is adapted to be covered and uncovered by the piston 13 during each cycle of movement of the rotor. Mounted within each compression chamber 20 is a hinged abutment@3, the same being pi'votally mounted at 24: and connected with the rotorrim 7. Y The free edge of the abutment 23 is preferably deflected inwardly as indicated at 25 to ride against the grooved outer wall 26 of the combustion chamber 2 as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. Each abutment 23 is formed with a port 26 therein, said port 26 being covered and uncovered by means of a valve 28 shown as of the flap or hinged type, the same being pivotally mounted at 29 at the inner side of and upon the abutment 23.

As shown in Fig. 2, I prefer to employ several groups of compressing and charging cylinders, the groups being respectively designated at A, B, C, D, E and F. It will be noted that the eccentrics designated at 16, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 3A are set out of aline ment with each other and are connected to a common tubular shaft or sleeve 35 which encircles the shaft 17. The arrangement just referred to results in a distribution of the explosions and resulting impulses and further adds to the even torque and application of power to the shaft 17. In some cases it is desirable to close in the ends of the stationary casing 1 by means of the heads or plates 36 shown in Fig. 2, the same being bolted or otherwise fastened to the casing 1 as shown at 37..

From the foregoing description, taken in connection. with the accompanying drawings, the operation of the engine will now be understood. Referring particularly to Fig. 1 it will be observed that the abutment 23 at the top of the figure has just been moved u ward by the compressed charge released mm the top cylinder a and traversing the passage 21, the pressure serving to hold the valve 28 closed and the compressed charge being thus trapped beneath and behind the abutment 23. Just at this moment a spark is produced by the igniter or plug 6 and the ignited charge, in expanding, acts against the abutment 23 to drive the same to the right. During this movement of the abutment the burned gas in the combustion chamber 2 is forced outwardly through the exhaust connection 4 by the action of the same abutment. As the last named abutment passes by the intake connection 3, a fresh charge is drawn into the cylinder a by the action of the piston 13 which has started to move inwardly and has uncovered the port 22. As the piston moves along its course and until it reaches the bottom position in Fig. 1, said piston continues to draw a charge into the cylinder 0., the indrawn charge traversing the arcuate intake channel 3, the latter being always in communication with the intake connection 3 and terminating at the point 3. After the cylinder a reaches the bottom position shown in Fig. l, the" piston thereof starts to move outwardly and continues such outward movement until the charge is compressed and forced into the respective compression chamber 21 under the abutment 23. Then, as previously noted, when the cylinder reaches the top position, the piston 13 thereof again closes the port 22 just before the charge is ignited. This same operation takes place successively with respect to each of the groups of cylinders as shown in Fig. 2 by reason of the offset relation of the eccentrics which on account of being connected to a common tubular shaft or sleeve maintain such offset relation to each other.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination with a stationary casing formed with a combustion chamber and provided with intake and exhaust ports, of a rotor mounted therein and embodying a circular series of compression chambers formed in the outer periphery thereof, hinged abutments movable into and out of such combustion chambers, a circular series of compressing and charging cylinders having a fixed relation to and carried by the rotor rim, pistons mounted to reciprocate in such cylinders, a shaft to which said rotor is fastened, means surrounding said shaft to which the piston connecting rods are attached, the rotor being formed with passages leading between each cylinder and the respective compression chamber, each abutlnent having a port formed therein, and an inwardly opening check valve controlling said port.

2. The combination with a stationary casing formed with a combustion chamber and provided with intake and exhaust ports, of a rotor mounted therein and embodying a circular series of compression chambers formed in' the outer periphery thereof, hinged abutments movable into and out of such combustion chambers, a circular series of compressing and charging cylinders having a fixed relation to and carried by the rotor rim, pistons mounted to reciprocate in such cylinders, a shaft to which said rotor is fastened, and means surrounding said shaft to which the piston connecting rods are attached, the rotor being formed with passages leading between each cylinder and the respective compression chamber, said passage having one end thereof arranged to be covered and uncovered by the adjacent piston.

3. The combination with a stationary cylindrical casing, formed with a series of combustion chambers, of a cylindrical rotor mounted therein and comprising a plurality ofgroups of compressing and charging cylinders, each group consisting of a circular series of such cylinders, a common rotor rim to which all of said cylinders are rigidly attached, a common engine shaft to which the rotor rim is attached, a tubular shaft surrounding the engine shaft and provided with a series of eccentrics offset from each other, straps around said eccentrics, pistons mounted to reciprocate in all of said cylinders, connecting rods between said pistons and the respective eccentrics, the rotor rim being further provided with circular series of compression chambers and passages leading therefrom to the I'BSPQCtlXG cylinders adapted to be covered and uncovered by said pistons, a hinged abutment movable into and out of each compression chamber and provided with a valved port, and intake and exhaust connections, the casing being formed with an arcuate passage communi 10 eating at one end with the intake connection.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE SCOTT GINN. Witnesses MARTHA ANN GINN, Osoan S. BROWN. 

